The Finance Minister says it could take 15 years before Defence Force spending reaches a goal set out by the Prime Minister.  

Christopher Luxon says he want the Government to get close to spending 2 percent of the country's GDP on defence. 

It comes as Chinese naval ships run live firing round practice in the Tasman Sea.   

Nicola Willis says it will take quite a few budgets to meet the 2 percent threshold. 

"What we're working on is a defence capability plan that sets out what are the big investments we need to make to get our defence force ready - and that will take us out to 2040."

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